Taiwan’s government revealed rare details of its wartime food plan on Tuesday (October 22). The government is conducting monthly inventories of critical supplies like rice to ensure proper storage across the island, in preparation for a potential blockade by the Chinese Communist Party.
According to Reuters, Taiwan’s Ministry of Agriculture, in a report submitted to the legislature on preparations for countering a Chinese blockade, stated that the ministry has ensured rice stocks exceed a three-month supply level as required by law, storing food supplies across the island to “reduce the risk of attack.” Reuters reviewed a copy of this report.
The Ministry of Agriculture indicated that Taiwan’s current rice reserves are sufficient to sustain the island for at least seven months and is developing a rice distribution plan through supply stations nationwide to prevent food crises.
Additionally, during a blockade, more farmland will be allocated for rice cultivation. The ministry also mentioned prioritizing the cultivation of sweet potatoes, soybeans, fresh vegetables, and expanding aquaculture using more ponds.
Taiwan was once a stronghold in agriculture during Japanese colonial rule from 1895 to 1945. However, rapid industrialization starting in the 1960s led to the conversion of farmland to factories, resulting in a heavy reliance on imported food for the majority of food needs.
As per a previous report by the Ministry of Agriculture, Taiwan’s food self-sufficiency rate dropped to 30.3% in 2023, the lowest level in 18 years.
Regarding the wartime food plan, the Ministry of Agriculture stated that in the absence of fishing at sea, fish feed stocks on the island will be enough to support pond fishing for over three months.
The ministry also plans to establish a task force to conduct monthly inventories of food resources on the island to ensure food supply security.
In another report submitted to the legislature regarding preparations for countering Chinese attacks, Taiwan’s security agency noted that the Chinese network forces are honing their skills in penetrating critical network infrastructures like telecommunications to disrupt Taiwan’s stability by spreading false information during a potential Taiwan Strait conflict.
The agency added that in the past two years, China has conducted three to four “joint preparedness patrols” near Taiwan every month. The number of refueling aircraft, landing ships, and other participating forces for aerial refueling is gradually increasing.
“This highlights the continuous upgrade of military threats from the Communist Party towards Taiwan, attempting to blockade and control our external maritime communication lines,” Taiwan’s security agency said.
Although the Chinese Communist Party has never ruled Taiwan, they have consistently claimed sovereignty over the island, vowing to bring Taiwan under their control. The Taiwanese government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, affirming that only the people of Taiwan can determine their future.
In the past five years, China has conducted almost daily military activities around Taiwan, including exercises blocking and attacking ports. Just last week, the Chinese military conducted encirclement exercises around Taiwan. According to Chinese official statements, the exercises included blockading major ports and regions, attacking maritime and ground targets. The United States criticized these military pressure actions by China as “irresponsible, disproportionate, and destabilizing.”
With tensions in the Taiwan Strait escalating, the United States has repeatedly warned Beijing that an attack on Taiwan would be a grave mistake. In addition to strengthening deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region, the U.S. has approved multiple arms sales to Taiwan to ensure its defense capabilities. This has angered China and become a controversial topic in high-level discussions between the U.S. and China.